Patient Exercises for Strength and Stability

  • March 4, 2026
Patient Exercises for Strength and Stability - Romanian Deadlift for Strength & Balance

Patients often ask about the best strengthening exercises for their legs. I made these videos with my good friends to show some examples of safe, effective movements that build strength and improve balance.

This series includes exercises that target the glutes, hamstrings, quads, and core to support healthy movement and joint stability.

Watching these demonstrations can help you see the right form and learn how to modify each exercise to fit your ability level.

Static Lunge With Row: Core and Knee-Friendly Strength

This exercise is a lunge, but by adding a row at the same time, you get a lot of core engagement, which is helpful and supports almost every other exercise you do. For many patients with knee pain, it’s easier to tolerate a static lunge rather than moving through space. Walking lunges can really load the front of the knee, but the static lunge is often much better tolerated while still building strength and stability.

In this video, you’ll see how to combine the lunge position with a controlled row to work the legs, glutes, and core together. Focus on staying tall through your torso, keeping your front knee comfortable, and using a weight that allows you to move with good form.

 

Squats With Bands: Knee-Friendly Strength and Stability

This is an awesome exercise, and what makes it so helpful is the TheraBand positioned around the back of the knees. The band encourages you to lean back and keeps your weight toward your heels, which reduces stress on your kneecaps while you squat.

A second feature that makes this exercise special is the added chest press, which turns it into a full-body movement that challenges both your legs and upper body. You want to make sure the weight isn’t so heavy that it pulls you forward or forces you out of good form. This variation can also be done with TRX bands, which changes the feel slightly but still helps keep your weight back and off the front of your knees.

 Single Leg Press: Safe Strengthening Tips for Patients

Patients ask a lot of questions about what specifically to do at the gym, especially for safe leg strengthening. The single leg leg press is one of my favorite exercises because it helps build strength in each leg individually and can highlight any side-to-side differences. You can do both legs at the same time if you are absolutely sure your leg strength is the same.

In this video, you’ll see the exercise performed to the point of fatigue (there’s no magic number of reps). In general, I like patients to work in the 20–30 rep range, with about 2–3 sets, focusing on control and proper form rather than rushing through the movement. Use a weight that challenges you by the end of the set but still feels safe on your joints.

 Leg Strengthening: The Romanian Deadlift + Row Combo

Patients often ask about the best strengthening exercises for their legs. I made these videos with my good friends to show some examples of simple, effective movements that build stability and strength.

In this video, you’ll see a Romanian deadlift combined with a row, which is a great way to work the glutes, hamstrings, and core while improving balance. Watching someone perform the move can make it easier to understand how to get into the right position and keep good form.

If balancing with the row feels challenging, try starting with just the Romanian deadlift until you’re comfortable. If this is too hard you can do it without the row or you can hold free weights in your hands and let your hands dangle for balance.